The Washington critic., 1887-03-15
THREE SCENES IN A LIFE.

oh VIZ hObi VI Nv
Foudriere, all traces of which the at.
tendants were hastily removing; not
much to hcar-only the footsteps of
those who were carrying out the dead,
and the idle comments of players and
loungers.
mot case of suicide" said one of
the habitues to au English officer stand
ing near the doors-"oh, moi lie burst
a blood vessel in his intense excite
ment, and died almost instantly. An
Englishman? Well, yes, think So
husband of the pretty girl we saw yes
terday at the Etablissement Very
Ill she looked and quite young child
was at her side"
And then arose the cry of "Faitcs lc
jeu messieurs"- the death scene
was forgotten, and the gamblers re-
sumed their absorbing play.
A small apartment in quiet street,
and a girl leaning from an open case
ment gazing at the peaceful sky. Her
face was very pale, with deep shadows
under the eyes, telling of many a
weary vigil like that which she was
then keeping.
Would he retrieve all, as he had as
sured her? Would the terrible losses
of the past weeks be repaired In few
short hours2 So he had said, and so
believed, and in hearing him she be.
lieved also.
And now would the long hours never
pass-would he never come? She
looked round at the neat but poor room,
at the sleeping child, and at the little
table with the white roll and flask of
cheap wine---all their scanty means
would allow her to provide-and then,
turning again to the window, she re.
sumed her lonely watch, shivering
slightly as the breeze ruiiled her soft
brown curls and the night.bird cry
fell on the-stillness of the deserted
street.
Not many months before Harry
Vaughan, with his wife and child, had
arrived at Foudriere. He was an art
ist, and hoped by winter among fairer
scenes and In milder air to recruit his
failing health and find fresh subjects
for his pencil.
1t was on one of his sketching ex.
cursions that he formed the acquaint.
ance of a young Frenchman, who
tempted him into u gaming saloon with
no other thought than that of passing
away an idle hour. But the conse.
quences of that one visit had been
fatal. Several men had been winning
heavily, and the excitement of play
entered like madness into the brain Of
the young Englishman, and he staked
again and again-small sums, certainly,
but still enough to feed the flame of
gambling within him, for he won every
time.
AS the young wife leaned from the
easement she dwelt with feverish re-
sentiment upon the events Of the past
day-how the young Frcnchman who
had first awakened in Harry the love
of play had been shocked at the misery
he had so unwi,tingly caused, and had
pressed on him the loan of 100 francs,
eXactipg the promise that If he tried his
luck once again and failed he would at
once and forever give up the gaming
table and return to his work.
Flushed with hope, and with n
strong determination to keep his word,
Harry bade Margaret adieu with more
than usual tenderness, and went out, as
he said, "to conquer fate"
Some,of the spirit entered into the
poor girls heat, aud filled 1t for
brief moment with hope. Then, in an
agony of fear and love, she called
him back, and implored him, with
tears and sobs, whether he lost or won,
never to enter gambling house again.
II will promise you, dear, he said,
softly, putting her gently from him,
and so went out to meet his doom.
He would never win or lose again,
and never more would Margaret keep
nt,1, g.. IL.
Strangers hands had laid him to rest
In the quiet graveyard; and now, with
fearless agony, Margaret knclt alone
beside her sleeping child.
They had nothing left; and without
food her child must die
Suddenly burning flush mounted
to her brow, and, starting to her feet,
she drew the wedding.r ring from her
wasted finger, and, kissing 1t passion
ately, hurried from the room, as If fear
full that her resolution might give
way.
A little later, with few francs
clasped in her burning hand. she
hastened, not to the poor room she
called her home, bat to the gaming
saloon where her husband had died not
many days before.
rs 1t not true" she kept repeating
to herself, that q new player always
wins? Then | shall wini and, nut.
tcring the same words again and again,
she passed unchalenged through the
wide.open doors, up the splendid stair.
case, and into large saloon where men
and women, in silent, terrible earnest,
were gambling at the tables.
Margaret staked or B francs with
feverish haste.
The English ofllcer-Captain Mostyn
who had witnessed her husband s
death, now stood inlently regarding
her. He moved restlessly, as If i'm
PEELED against his will to interfere,
Unknown to herself and all around,
fever had taken hold of the weakened
frame and lent fictitious strength and
fictitious courage TO the despairing
girl, and with daring rccklossness
she staked and won, until small pile
of gold lay before her dazzled eyes
Then the tcntion of her nerves gave
way, and with low cry she fell for
ward in dead faint.
Springing to her side without mo-
ments delay, Captain Mostyn, who
had been anXiously watching all that
occurred, lifted the poor girl in his
arms and carried her out of the sitting
atmosphere of the saloon, followed by
ayoung medical student to whom he
had been talking
Finding their efforts to restore her to